bigpigeon.us webpage WWII - Germany > ETO > France Liberated, updated by RAC 17 May 2022.
In less than two months, from late July to mid September 1944, Allied forces broke out of the Normandy Beachhead and liberated most of France and Belgium.
Two additional Allied armies participated in the breakout and pursuit that ended combat in Normandy:
In less than two months, from late July to mid September 1944, Allied forces broke out of the Normandy Beachhead and liberated most of France and Belgium.
- The Allied breakout began with the carpet bombing of German lines west of St. Lo on July 24 and 25.
- Progress was initially slow but picked up momentum throughout August as enemy troops abandoned most of France and Belgium.
- Most of Belgium was liberated in a few days in early September.
- By mid-September, Allied troops were outrunning their supply lines and German resistance began stiffening.
Two additional Allied armies participated in the breakout and pursuit that ended combat in Normandy:
- Jul '44 - The Canadian First Army, partially comprised of elements already in Normandy, began combat.
- 1 Aug '44 - George Patton's Third Army began combat operations on the right flank of the US First Army. Some elements of the Third Army were already in combat.
- on the left flank, the 21st Army Group, commanded by General Bernard Montgomery and consisting of the Canadian 1st and the British 2nd Armies.
- on the right flank, the 12th Army Group, commanded by General Omar Bradley and consisting of the US First and Third Armies, the First Army now being commanded by Courtney Hodges.
Links to subordinate webpages:
- The Normandy Breakout, 25 Jul - 22 Aug '44 (partly done)
- Northern France Liberated, Aug - Sep '44 (almost done)
- Southern France Liberated, Aug - Sep '44 (almost done)
The quick liberation of France and Belgium in August and early September of 1944 resulted from two combined Allied drives that induced a lengthy and quick German retreat:
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Some areas of France were not liberated by the middle of September:
- The port of Brest did not fall until 19 September and Calais on 1 October. Dunkirk and some ports in the Bay of Biscay remained in German hands until the end of WW II.
- Eastern Lorraine was mostly liberated in November 1944.
- Alsace was mostly liberated in November 1944, but German troops remained in the Colmar Pocket in southern Alsace until February 1945 and northern Alsace until after mid-March 1945.
Sources for the WWII - France Liberated webpage:
- The webpage header image, Crossing the Seine, Aug '44 from Wikipedia, shows a treadway bridge constructed by the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion and in use by the 3rd Armored Division. It is courtesy of wikipedia.
- The France Liberated map is courtesy of howstuffworks.com.